Ken Armstrong cleared

Ken Armstrong

(PETERBOROUGH) Ken Armstrong, interim chair of the police services board, has been cleared of allegations of using threats to inappropriately trying to influence two City councillors.
This Week learned of the investigation Thursday from unnamed sources.
"This has been a blip," says Mr. Armstrong.
He says he holds no resentment over the matter and will continue serving on the police board.
His Toronto-based lawyer, Joseph Markson, says Durham police cleared Mr. Armstrong today (Dec. 10) and will not lay any charges or take any further action.
It was also alleged that the claims are a part of a smear tactic in the dispute that has gone on for about a year between the City of Peterborough and the police board over spending and how many representatives the City has serving on the board.
It originated over the request last year from the police board for an 8.4-per-cent budget increase last year.
As the dispute went on, council asked the Township to give up its seat, but was denied.
A compromise on the budget was reached last year and has already been reached this year.
At the Dec. 10 council meeting, the City is expected to approve starting the two-year process to dissolve its policing agreement with Lakefield.
In September, Mayor Bennett was informed that he was being investigated by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission over undisclosed actions.
The investigation is still underway and Mayor Bennett has been asked not to participate until that investigation is over.
The police board is made up of five positions: Mayor Bennett; Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township Mayor Mary Smith; City of Peterborough’s community representative; Provincial appointee Ken Armstrong; and a vacant provincial appointment seat previously held by former board chair Nancy Martin.
Ms Martin resigned in August.